Monthly Archives: May 2011

Uma Thurman David Lachapelle Schweppes

Uma Thurman & David Lachapelle For Schweppes

Uma Thurman Schweppes ad campaign

Schweppes has recruited screen siren Uma Thurman in another glamorous ad campaign, this time shot by famed high fashion photographer David LaChapelle.

In its latest TV ad blitz, the fizzy beverage maker trades in one statuesqueue blond for another, having used Nicole Kidman in a Bollywood-inspired ad campaign in 2009.

The ads feature Thurman reclining glamorously in an old-Hollywood-style vignette, speaking seductively about her love of the Schweppes beverage to a journalist.
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hotel biltmore

Luxury Biltmore hotel coming to Middle East

hotel biltmore

Legendary Hollywood hotel brand Biltmore is to open an outpost in the Middle East.

Millennium & Copthorne, which owns the Biltmore brand, said at the Arabian Travel Market that it would open a spinoff of the Los Angeles property in Abu Dhabi by 2013.

The Biltmore Hotel in Hollywood is one of America’s most iconic hotels — it has hosted countless movie stars and is something of a screen legend itself, having been featured in films such as Ghostbusters, Independence Day and Chinatown.

First opened in 1923, the Biltmore’s art deco style has made it a firm favorite among luxury travelers and foodies keen to experience the four restaurants and bars.

Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles

Now, the luxury property is set to be transported to Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen district, where company officials said “the timeless elegance and glamour of the Biltmore is certain to resonate with this market.”

It is likely to be a high-profile entrant to the hotel scene in this exclusive corner of Abu Dhabi, the oldest occupied area of the UAE’s capital where traditional fishing trawlers bob next to gleaming new resorts.

Nearby hotels include a , a Hilton and an InterContinental property, as well as the famous Emirates Palace hotel by Kempinski.

Hublot Beverly Hills

Hublot Opens Flagship Boutique in Beverly Hills

Hublot Beverly Hills

Luxury watch maker Hublot has opened its first boutique in the Western United States in Beverly Hills, California.

Internationally recognized as a luxury capital, Beverly Hills is home to the world’s most exclusive stores, with Rodeo Drive at its epicenter.

The Hublot Boutique Beverly Hills is located in the heart of the city’s most prestigious shopping district, on Brighton Way at Rodeo Drive.
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Mount Kumgang resort

North Korea makes new move in row over resort

Mount Kumgang resort

North Korea said Friday it would encourage international investment in a mountain resort, weeks after threatening to scrap its exclusive deal with the South Korean firm that helped fund the project.

The special zone for international tours will be set up around Mount Kumgang under a decree issued by parliament Friday, the North’s official news agency said.

The resort on the east coast was largely developed by the South’s Hyundai Asan and was the two countries’ first joint project, designed to foster reconciliation.
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William and Kate

William and Kate to honeymoon in Seychelles

William and Kate

Prince William and his wife Kate will honeymoon at a luxury villa on an island in the Seychelles, according to Monday’s Daily Mail newspaper.

The newly-weds delayed their honeymoon, but will jet out later this month to spend ten days at a £4,000 ($6,700) a night retreat in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

The protection officers reportedly visited the top-secret location to assess its suitability and were satisfied that the isolated resort would offer the required privacy.
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Vogue Italia Kitchen

Vogue Italia launches chic online cooking classes

Vogue Italia Kitchen

When Vogue Italia does food, they put an Italian goddess in a pretty, bohemian strapless dress, choose a folk jazz soundtrack to accompany her instructions, and cook healthy, simple dishes for calorie-conscious fashionista foodies.

The Italian edition of Vogue magazine launched a new online feature called Vogue Kitchen earlier this week with short three-minute segments which offer online cooking classes in Italian with English subtitles.

Vogue’s editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani introduced the new feature on her Twitter account, saying they will offer “easy, fast, delicious, and above all, healthy recipes.”
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Jessica Alba Piaget Possession Collection

Jessica Alba for Piaget

Jessica Alba Piaget Possession Collection

Swiss luxury jewelry and watch brand Piaget has tapped Actress Jessica Alba to be an ambassador for its new Possession jewelry collection.

Alba features in six ads for Piaget’s Possession line, which were styled by Brad Goreski and shot by Patrick Demarchelier before being released on Facebook.

The star says that she likes the “chic and simple” design of the jewelry as well as the idea of layering the gold, silver, and rose gold pieces on top of each other.
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Prada Milano

Prada announces retail strategy in Middle East

Prada Milano

Prada said on Wednesday it will open stores across the Middle East as part of a joint venture with Emirates luxury retailer Al Tayer Insignia to develop a new retail network.

“The joint venture company, headquartered in Dubai, will oversee the roll out of Prada and Miu Miu stores across the region, leveraging on Al Tayer Insignia’s market knowledge and expertise,” a joint company statement said.

The new retail network will see stores opened in Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, it said.
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Orient express wagon exterior

Inside the Orient Express

Orient express wagon exterior

The legendary Orient Express train was on display at the Gare de l’Est railway station in Paris on Tuesday 26th April.

France’s state-owned rail company SNCF opened the train, the set of the famous Agatha Christie’s novel, to the public for an unprecedented tour.

The event marks the SNCF Thriller Prize finals, consisting in readers’ voting for their favorite detective novel of the year, along with an exhibition “Trains du mystere” showing the interlaces between rail and crime literature in the past 150 years.
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frequent traveler awards

Best frequent travel programs unveiled

frequent traveler awards

Marriott has won two major awards at the Frequent Traveler Awards, held April 28 in New York.

The chain’s Marriott Rewards scheme picked up the award for Hotel Program of the Year in both the Americas and Europe and Africa, although Priority Club by rival chain InterContinental took the Program of the Year in Middle East and Asia/Oceania.

Air Canada’s Aeroplan, Lufthansa’s Miles & More and Emirates’ Skywards were the big winners in the airline Program of the Year category, taking the Americas, Europe and Africa and Middle East and Asia/Oceania respectively.
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hotel WiFi

Revealed: the heroes and villains of hotel wifi

hotel WiFi

Despite the internet now being a basic necessity for just about everything, getting hold of it while traveling can prove frustrating and expensive.

Many hotels around the world, safe in the knowledge that business travelers with expense accounts will shell out ludicrous sums for just an hour’s worth of connection, continue to charge exorbitant rates — sometimes over €20 daily — despite the fact that surveys show that travelers are crying out for free connections.

HotelChatter, which this week released its 7th annual Hotel WiFi Report revealing the best and the worst when it comes to US and international hotels and the worldwide web, believes free WiFi is on the rise as hotels listen to their customers.
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Britain Royal Wedding

Kate Middleton’s Alexander McQueen Dress

Britain Royal Wedding

Kate Middleton wore a stunning ivory and lace wedding dress Friday by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, her face covered lightly with a hand-embroidered veil held by a tiara lent by the queen.

Smiling broadly and waving to the cheering crowd, the 29-year-old also clutched a bouquet of flowers that included Sweet William. Her bridegroom showed his appreciation by mouthing to her: “You look beautiful.”

Burton, the 36-year-old creative director of the fashion house Alexander McQueen, had long been tipped for the commission, but palace officials had remained tight-lipped right up until the moment Kate stepped out of the car.
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